CBC News
WASHINGTON
- Grocery companies in the United States are demanding more rigorous
tests and labelling for foods that are genetically modified.
The Grocery
Manufacturers of America say the U.S. government should not let
altered foods go to market until they go through testing.
INDEPTH:
Food Fight
"We need
to know what's in our products," says Lisa Katic, director
of nutrition of the GMA.
Biotechnology
companies claim they will have testing methods made available
to the government soon.
Grocery manufacturers
say they need specific information because overseas markets don't
want biologically engineered food.
MARKETPLACE:
Labelling Genetically Modified Foods
The Federal
Department of Agriculture has proposed voluntary labelling guidelines
and a review process that includes posting scientific data on
the Internet.
The GMA is
concerned about the issue after traces of the StarLink variety
of corn were found in taco shells. Starlink is produced by Aventis.
It was only approved for animal feed.
The discovery
triggered one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history last
year.
Critics of GM foods are afraid the products will go to market
before the full extent of their effects on humans are known.
Government
scientists say StarLink is not ready for human consumption because
of concerns it can cause allergic reactions.
Critics of
gene-altered foods say they want new biotech crops to go through
the same lengthy process as food additives.
|
